After noticing a handful of ultra-sensorial movies on my TikTok For You web page that showcased Japanese head spa remedies (as of this writing, #headspa has 168 million views on the app), I used to be tempted to provide my scalp a bit TLC of its personal. So—for the sake of analysis and the sorry state of my strands (and since there isn’t at the moment a head spa in my dwelling metropolis of San Francisco)—I flew to Los Angeles for an appointment with Sayuri Tchushitani at Head Spa EN in quest of higher hair days.
What’s a Japanese Head Spa?
Although head spas have solely just lately turn into fashionable within the West, they’ve lengthy been frequent throughout Asia, and provide therapeutic massages that promote a wholesome scalp, sturdy hair, higher sleep, stress reduction, and extra.
The therapy itself focuses on the scalp and hair. “It includes deep clear, detox, therapeutic massage to nourish the scalp and hair,” says Keiko Uehara, co-founder and CEO of Blow Me Away Natural Salon and Head Spa in Los Angeles. “It incorporates Japanese therapeutic massage approach with natural merchandise to stimulate blood movement and promote wholesome hair progress.”
The time period ‘head spa’ is used interchangeably to explain each the salon and the therapy itself, and its origins could be traced again to Ayurvedic medication in India, which has lengthy relied on herbs and oils for hair progress and to nourish the scalp.
“In Japan, hair is taken into account an essential facet of magnificence and grooming, and taking good care of the scalp is seen as an integral a part of sustaining wholesome and exquisite hair,” explains Uehara, “It’s a custom in Japan to obtain a head therapeutic massage whereas doing different hair remedies and that contributed to the event of head spa in that space.”
Rising up in Japan, Tchushitani realized firsthand about the advantages of those remedies. However when she turned a hairstylist within the West (specifically in New York, London, and Los Angeles), she observed a bent to cowl up scalp points with over-the-counter lotions and ache relievers as an alternative of coping with the foundation trigger. “Many remedies put band-aids on the difficulty quite than treating the issue on the supply,” she says.
So she determined to open a head spa of her personal that will provide a extra holistic strategy to hair care than what we’ve historically seen within the US. “Stress causes extra issues than we give it credit score for, and the pinnacle spa is a small sanctuary from all of that,” she says.
The advantages of Japanese head spas
Your purpose for visiting a head spa might vary from treating cussed dandruff to enjoyable your thoughts after a protracted day. No matter why you have an interest, we break down the entire advantages beneath.
Beauty advantages
Scalp points are a significant draw for head spas. Irritation, dryness, extreme oiliness, and dandruff are points that Tchushitani sees on a regular basis. She views the pinnacle spa therapy as a reset button to your scalp. A wholesome scalp helps facilitate wholesome hair, so customers usually discover a rise in shine and luster after their therapy.
Past that, head spas are mentioned to encourage hair progress. Although there may be restricted analysis on the subject, Kari Williams, MD, a board-certified trichologist, licensed cosmetologist, and pure hair specialist, sees the connection. “Sustaining wholesome hair progress is supported by means of the usage of merchandise that may hold the scalp and hair follicles freed from buildup and preserve wholesome blood circulation within the scalp,” she says. “So in that manner, these specific scalp care practices do assist and promote wholesome hair progress.”
That being mentioned, Tiffany Libby, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based mostly in Rhode Island, cautions in opposition to utilizing this as a therapy for a medical situation. “It sounds beautiful, and seems to be a self-care follow that may be a ‘nice-to-have’ not a ‘must-have,’” she says.
Holistic advantages
For Tchushitani, the advantages of Head Spa prolong past cosmetics. Sure, shiny strands and a fuller mane are nothing to sneeze at, however she is rather more within the stress reduction and sleep assist unintended effects.
In her dwelling nation of Japan, insomnia charges are a few of the highest on the earth. When she obtained to the US, she realized the scenario was not a lot better. “Individuals don’t notice how negatively stress impacts their lives,” she says, “It’s so essential to search out small methods to mitigate stress in your every day routines.”
That’s the place the pinnacle spa is available in. Her purchasers vary from youngsters looking for out anxiousness reduction to middle-aged males preventing insomnia. No matter why they search out the therapy, most of Tchushitani’s purchasers fall asleep throughout the first 10 minutes. Uehara additionally notes how the follow might help relieve pressure and stress within the head and neck.
What occurred once I tried it
At Tchushitani’s salon, my head spa expertise started with a session. Utilizing a microscope, she combed by means of my half and confirmed me close-up pictures of my scalp. Pink patches round my crown meant irritation, whereas oily clumps round my hairline meant build-up. Fortunately, Tchushitani assured me that this was nothing a bit cleaning couldn’t deal with.
As an alternative of leaping instantly into shampooing, Tchushitani adopted the session with a neck and shoulder therapeutic massage that included sizzling stones, a soothing sound machine, and a dimly lit room. She talked about that a lot of her purchasers go to sleep in the course of the therapy, which I might definitely relate to as my very own eyelids began to get heavy (however for the sake of this story, I stayed awake).
Subsequent, it was time for the wash. In contrast to at salons, the place water usually drips down your brow and suds make their manner into your eyes, Tchushitani was meticulous. Her nimble fingers ran throughout my hairline with precision, making a small moat for extra water, and shortly returned to the again of my head, her knuckles lifting, urgent, and shaking till the suds absolutely retreated.
Then got here the steaming step, which is what sometimes will get TikTok voyeurs commenting, “I would like this in my life!” Tchushitani connected an extra-large steaming bonnet to my head to open the pores on my scalp to permit for a deeper clear. From there, she gave me a deeper and extra concerned therapeutic massage, which was nothing wanting wonderful (critically—the shampoo-step therapeutic massage doesn’t even examine to this prolonged model). As soon as once more, I struggled to maintain my eyes open whereas she rubbed and tapped at uncared for areas of my scalp.
I finally got here out of my haze when she completed with yet one more neck and shoulder therapeutic massage which was great despite the fact that it signaled the top of my dream state.
Tchushitani was gracious sufficient to complete my therapy with a blowout, which is accessible for an additional cost. To cap issues off, she ended the appointment by revisiting my scalp underneath the microscope, which revealed that my pink spots had returned to their regular shade of peach and the oily blobs had vanished. As an added bonus, my blowout regarded bouncy and full.
Value
The price for the therapy varies, however at Head Spa EN, Tchushitani presents two choices. The 40-minute prices $110 and the 60-minute prices $150 with an extra $60 cost for a blowout.
Scalp pleasant merchandise
If this therapy feels like what you want however you may’t discover a salon close to you, don’t fret. These merchandise promote a wholesome scalp atmosphere, and a bit DIY-scalp therapeutic massage might help you replicate the enjoyable atmosphere of a head spa in your individual toilet.
Fable and Mane HoliRoots Therapy Oil — $36.00
Calling all dry scalps, this nutrient-dense serum makes use of ashwagandha and castor oil to hydrate and soothe.
Store now Head and Shoulders Clear Delicate Scalp Therapy — $11.00
This leave-in therapy is a should when you wrestle with dandruff. Apply to your half at night time and rinse out the next morning for a minty recent scalp.
Store now DevaCurl Scalp Puri(PH)y Simple Rinse Exfoliating Spray — $37.00
Extreme build-up can block pores and impede progress. “It makes use of the energetic ingredient glycolic acid to detoxify the scalp and gently take away build-up from the scalp and hair follicles,” says Williams.
Store now
Watch a (fairly disgusting, but oddly satisfying) scalp facial:
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